The Queen's Sorrow

A queen brought low by love compromised and power abused -- the tragedy of Mary Tudor. Plain, dutiful and a passionate Catholic, Mary Tudor was overwhelmed by joy when she became England's first ruling queen. After the misery of her childhood, when her father had rejected her mother, Catherine of Aragon, and effectively disowned his daughter, Mary felt at last that she was achieving her destiny. And when she married Philip of Spain, her happiness was complete. But Mary's delight quickly soured as she realised that her husband did not love her and in fact found her devotion to him irritating. Desperate for a baby, she became caught up by the belief that she must appease her God by bringing England back to her faith. Her people were horrified at the severity of the measures she took and began to turn against their queen who was lonely, frightened -- and desperate for love. Rafael, a member of Philip of Spain's entourage, was a reluctant witness to the unfolding tragedy and as the once-feted queen tightened her cruel hold on the nation, Rafael became closer to Mary and his life -- and new-found love -- became caught up in the terrible chaos that followed.